Browsing: Vinny Prospal

Has there been a game this season that better defined these Rangers, the It’s Just Paingers? In a game, let’s face it, they pretty much had to win, they played with all those characteristics we’ve seen most of the year: The shot blocking, the body checks, the PK, the struggle…

What a difference a year makes. A season ago, 87 points meant failure. Today, by contrast, 87 points means the following: One regulation loss in our last 10 games. Tied points-wise with Montreal for sixth. Seven points clear of Carolina. The magic number down to eight. And three days off…

Awful. Just awful. Maybe you could have seen this coming. Maybe. But, really, the Rangers have given us reason to think they won’t succumb to the set-up, to playing down to the opponent. They did, although I’m giving Ottawa a little bit of credit for lulling them to sleep, and…

I’ll link later to my game story … which was about how there’s always these goofy swings in Rangers-Isles games, and how the Rangers survived the lows by going back to basics — down low, straight-ahead play. They do it after bad periods. They do it after bad games (see:…

John Tortorella: “I thought Hank, especially in the first period, made some really key saves. We got into trading chances with them a little bit. I thought we played better as we went on. But we can’t trade chances. We’ve got to continue to work at playing the proper defense.…

Marian Gaborik: “The first period was good and the second period we kind of had a little hiccup there. So, big goal by Cally there and we kept rolling from there.” “It’s always nice to score, definitely. But big win. We didn’t have a lot of games lately. But we’ve…

This was like taking four punches. Ugh, ouch, ooof, ouch. The Rangers lost, Buffalo won, Montreal won, Carolina won. I will say this about Buffalo, with its three games in hand. I am not impressed based on that game last night. Except for the goalkeeper, that is. The Rangers need…

Or not? The Monday trade deadline is coming fast, and a lot of teams have jumped out ahead of the parade and made big deals. I still suspect there will be a massive number of trades Monday. And we will be here, at Blog HQ with youse, from breakfast, through…

Same old story for the NY Rangers. Keep it close for 55 minutes, and then turn it on. That scenario didn’t bode well for our boys: On the road against a superior team that has been shut out two games in a row. I wasn’t betting on tonight being the end…

The news first: Lundqvist in goal. Prospal to play LW with Gaborik and Stepan, Del Zotto on defense, Eminger prucha’d. Other lines: Wolski-Drury-Avery Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan Zuccarello-Boyle-Prust. Will have quotes shortly. ——– John Tortorella: “Same pairs on defense. I thought (Sauer and McDonagh) were our best pair the other night. I thought…

Here’s the announcement from the Rangers: NEW YORK RANGERS TRANSACTION UPDATE New York, February 3, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Kris Newbury has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL). Newbury, 28, has registered one…

Vinny Prospal is scheduled to make his season debut after knee surgery. John Tortorella said yesterday that Marc Staal will keep the alternate captaincy he was given in Prospal’s absence. I imagine that Kris Newbury will be scratched to make room for Prospal … but maybe we’ll be surprised? I’m…

Here’s my column from The Journal News and LoHud.com today: NEW YORK — It is the quote of the season for the Rangers, because it is everything they are about. Brandon Prust, the tough-as-shoe-leather winger, had been playing with at least two bad injuries — a bum shoulder and a…

John Tortorella: Update on Boogaard: “Nope. We’re trying to stimulate him, trying to get him moving around, but he still doesn’t feel well. Can he imagine getting him back? “Very difficult. It would be very difficult (both to guess when, or to actually get him back). Both. It’s something we…

… and time for the feats of strength. Not to be confused with Rex Ryan’s feets of strength. Yamahama. It’s a special Festivus night Rangers game at MSG, vs. the Lightnings. Mats Zuccarello makes his NHL debut in place of Marian Gaborik (groin). Derek Boogaard (shoulder/headaches) remains out, along with…

Hey, this is how my day is going. Caught an earlier train than usual, but it was slow and completely packed, including idiots on the phone. No prob. Still plenty of time for a brisk walk to the Garden. But I get there, still early, and the World’s Most Terrible…

Big game against the angry Pens, coming off a loss in Philly last night which ended their 12-game winning streak (their first loss since the Rangers beat them at the new Igloo a month earlier). So we get to see Sid the Skid, Malkin, Fleury and that piece of carcillo…

We expect Chris Drury to play tomorrow in Pittsburgh, and I’m sure those guys who are at practice today will be talking to the captain about his return. But I want to get the discussion going ahead of the pack. Here’s my take: I know he’s not the most popular…

Quotes to follow. Just want to get this out there first, in case they didn’t cover it on the post-game show. Drury has been cleared to return and wanted to play tonight. He will play in Pitt Wednesday. “It’s not going to be the kids,” John Tortorella said. “I’ll tell…

Thoughts: 1) That was one of the rare ones this season where the Rangers did almost everything they planned to do, and still lost. 2) I am not one to normally give the other goalie credit. I think too often that’s an excuse. Too often a goalie looks good because…